USARJ Tax Center takes the worry out of paying taxes

Photo By Timothy Shannon | U.S. Army Sgt. Antwon Shade, right, a volunteer at the U.S. Army Japan Tax Center, assists a civilian employee with his taxes at Camp Zama in Kanagawa, Japan, April 4, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Timothy Shannon/Released)  

CAMP ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

04.05.2013

Story by Timothy Shannon 

U.S. Army Japan

CAMP ZAMA, Japan - It’s never fun to pay taxes. Most people put it off until the last minute, but as the old saying goes, “there are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes.”

The U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward) tax center can’t help you with the death part of the deal, but they are ready and capable of helping their customers get the biggest return on their taxes possible.

“The tax return services are a way of eliminating the worry and stress for our service members,” said tax adviser Joey Acfalle. “But because we are overseas, the service is also provided for military spouses, civilian personnel and retirees for tax services done at Camp Zama. We’ve even helped spouses with deceased service members to complete their taxes.”

The number of clients using the tax center to the end of March is up this year with 781 clients’ taxes being prepared compared with 667 returns in 2012 which keeps the 12 person volunteer team of tax preparers busy.

The tax center’s hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, including training holidays and sergeant’s training time.

According to tax preparer Spc. Christopher Crane, there are two rushes every year. The first occurs in January after customers receive their W-2s from the Internal Revenue Service. After that, it slows down until the deadline looms large and people worry about getting their taxes done before the April 15 deadline. Crane was quick to add, the tax office will close June 17 as overseas service members receive an extra two months to complete their taxes. However, Crane doesn’t mind considering the positive feeling he gets from helping his customers.

“It makes you feel good when you get someone who doesn’t know how to do their taxes and I can prepare their taxes and say, ‘Hey, you are going to get this much back’ or I can see a client and say, ‘No, I can save you an extra $2,000,’” Crane said.

Crane’s enthusiasm and skill, as well as the rest of the volunteer team, resulted in record-breaking results as the tax office provided $2,130,491 in refunds and $186,036 in filing fees by the end of March.

Crane reiterated that service members overseas receive an additional two months to complete their taxes and the tax office has the talent to deal with almost all taxes questions.

Acfalle confidently agreed.

“People whose taxes are difficult due to secondary income are also welcomed,” stated Acfalle. “A lot of times, we have civilians with an exorbitant amount of capital gains and rental income. Their concern is, we at the tax office may not have an understanding of those rules.”

Acfalle knows from experience that his team of tax preparers are knowledgeable, ready and eager to assist.

“I’ll be the first to tell you firsthand, after eight years of running tax offices, these guys, who I trained myself, have already passed their IRS requirements and certifications,” said Acfalle.

“They’re familiar with how to find the most refund or the more money for your buck when it comes to capital gains and depreciation in rental income.”

Tax specialist Tomas Contreras thought the tax training was life changing. “The training may have actually changed my career,” said Contreras.

To make an appointment, either stop by the tax center in Bldg. 101, Room CS109, or call 263-1040.

• Date Taken: 04.05.2013
• Date Posted: 04.05.2013 02:35
• Story ID: 104668
• Location: CAMP ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JP